Bright Elbow/ Lead Hill

[Forsythian]

Took the family out to the Elbow launch yesterday evening... hadn't been there since before the water came up in the Spring. The water is low enough to take the low road around, but there's a dock ramp across it so you have to come in from up top. It's not in too bad of shape, but you need a 4x4.

I forgot to get gas on the way, so off we go to lead hill dock... it is a 24 hour self-serve pump! That's a new one on me, pretty handy IMO.

Fishing was pretty good... thanks to Rangerman and Stone9-7=2 for their regular posts! We got into the whites just before dark as they were surfacing on the windblown flats nearby.

We had originally planned to spend the night over the lights, but family duties interfered... not sure how great it would have been with that big ol' moon anyway. Maybe next weekend!

Beautiful area of the lake... I could go everyday

[Sam]

We were on Bull Shoals yesterday evening also, out of K Dock. We didn't go far, just around the first bend down toward Mincy.

The white bass didn't boil on top - except for ONE enormous boil about 7:15 p.m. It was at the edge of the main channel where it comes up to a flat - 32 foot depth. The boil was as big as a house and they stayed up for a good 3 minutes - I've never seen anything like it, there were thousands of 'em in that one boil. We caught 14 real quick, then that was it. When they weren't boiling we could scope bait and white bass all over the place, but couldn't get 'em to bite.

At dark we switched over to bass fishing - nothing fancy, just pounding steep rocky banks with a Texas-rigged worm, 1978-style. I thought we did pretty good between dark and midnight, we caught 11 largemouths including 5 that would have been keepers. Big fish was 18 1/2", and we had two 17". We went home at midnight, and a good time was had by all.

It sure was a pretty night once the heat and the bugs went away. That big full moon was so bright I could tie on a hook without a light - it was real nice to be out there.

[stone9-7=2]

Sounds like you both had a good time.

Thank's for the info on the 24hr self serve-pump. I didn't know that either.

The pictures I posted on the lower bull forum were all caught when the moon was lit up...

However It was late when it came up if I remember rt.

Still prefer a pitch black night though but one never knows.

[Martin]

Lead Hill Marina also has a nightcrawler vending machine......( lol ). It accepts quarters, one dollar bills, and 5 dollar bills.

Keep in mind all your change will come back to you in quarters. I think the crawlers were $2.50 a container and they weren't too bad. About like what you'd get anywhere else. The day we were there, the lady said the machine wasn't accepting the 5 dollar bills, but a repair man was on the way. The vending machine is outside, so I guess that would be 24 hour a day nightcrawlers.

[rangerman]

I'll be down 08/12-13. Can't wait! I am going to fish the lead hill area primarily with BB. Might try some new things to bring up a lunker. I'll be in a 621 ranger marroon/cherry/tan sparkle (pops boat). My ranger is going to stay home this trip. Such a sad thing, but alot easier on the pocketbook. If anyone is out stop and say hi.

Jason

[stone9-7=2]

Wish I could go then,would love to stop & say hey.

Maybe another time. Best of luck to you.

[Martin]

I'm hoping to go Thursday, but, being self-employed I never know what might come up. Hope to hear a report from Rangerman and Powerdive tomorrow evening. I think they are both going to be in the vicinity of LH tomorrow.

I have some new artificial baits to try. They are called "Slimers". lol. I got the 3 inch black leeches and they look and feel real. The website is johnnydarter.net

They say they are made of mostly water and won't hurt the enviroment. I'm still struggling with the Gulp stuff. I have friends who swear by it, but so far, I just swear at it. (can't catch a fish). lol

So, if the eyes are still biting good, it would be a good time to try some new stuff.